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Tickets? Check. Hotel? Check. Itinerary? Check… The trip’s all set but what about you? Here’s how you can conquer the flight with flying colors.

AT THE AIRPORT

Get to the airport early. I can’t imagine running around to catch that plane while carrying a baby and a whole lot of stuff. Manage and lessen stress by being on time or even a little early. Yes, some airports have special lanes but that’s not a guarantee.

Plan what to carry. We only had two huge luggage bags that had everything we needed. King carried a backpack for all our gadgets and documents, while I took care of the baby and the baby bag. Remember to check-in as much luggage as possible.

Bring the Stroller up to the gates. Consider bringing the stroller all the way to the boarding gates for convenience. You can surrender it at the gates anyway

Change diaper before boarding. Most planes have very small changing areas that can be challenging for big babies. In worst cases, changing on the floor near the bulkhead area is the only option. Thus, a need for a Diaper Changing Pad. What else will you need?

Baby Sterilized Water. Some airports would only allow 3 oz. of liquid to be carried inside the plane. So prepare clean empty baby bottles instead and buy sterilized distilled water inside the plane. Air Asia, however, put no limit on this. Better ask your airline first.

Powdered Milk. There’s no limit for this but make sure you pre-measure and put them in nicely sealed baby milk powder dispensers.

Food and Toy to keep baby entertained.

Diaper. I packed just enough diapers for the flight and possible delays. I decided to buy the rest in Hong Kong to save space.

First Aid Kit. I brought the basics: Thermometer, Paracetamol, Small Bandages, and such. I also brought Prince’s vitamins with me.

The 3 B’s of Comfort: Baby Blanket, Beanies, Bibs

Wet wipes for diaper changes and cleaning baby’s hands and face

Diaper Changing Pad and plastic bags for soiled diapers

A complete set of clothes for baby and mommy for spit-ups, diaper leakage and even spills

Mommy’s phone, wallet, sunglasses, and make-up… yes, make-up.

IN THE AIRPLANE

Liquids for pressure and dehydration. I’m glad a friend shared this to me. Not only that it can keep baby well-hydrated, offering milk or any other liquids can help baby’s ears adjust to cabin pressure changes. It should be given to wide awake babies during take-off and landing. Eating baby food can help too.

Should I buy baby a seat? Children under 2 years old can sit on an adult’s lap. Just make sure that he’s in a sling carrier or wearing a child seatbelt available in-flight to keep baby safe in case of turbulence.

Getting off the plane. Don’t rush off the plane. Wait for the other passengers to get out to prevent long standing and waiting.

Bon Voyage! Don’t forget to get baby a passport (yes, he needs one for international flights).

It’s our first time to fly with the little prince. Though I’m pretty confident that we’ll blend in well in Hong Kong (HK), it’s the preparation before the travel that concerned me.

Here’s the first part of tips on how we had everything in control – or close.

Cleared. Visit your baby’s pediatrician before the trip. Just to make sure s/he’s fit to travel, free from any illnesses and has all vaccines that may be needed.

Study your destination. Aside from the language and culture, be in the know of your destination city’s current news, events and weather forecast. Keep maps and navigators. Try to find out the area where you will be staying. Good that HK Tourism provided Apps for tourists that helped us a lot in planning our trip.

Baby and the Vacation Home. I had a lot of things to consider but here are my top concerns: Tub, Water Heater, Bottle Sterilizer and Crib. Good thing there are portable tubs, water heaters and sterilizers out there. Just make sure that sockets’ shape and voltages match. Speaking of sockets, outlet protectors and duct tapes would be helpful.

Look for friends and people you know. I love that Filipinos are scattered across the globe.

Now you know what to expect, from the weather forecast to transportation modes. It’s time to decide on what to pack.

Baby’s clothes. A good set of clothes right for the season gives baby a lot of ease. It was summer in HK so I packed in light, comfy clothes. But the airport and malls were freezing cold, and a typhoon landed in the middle of our travel. We had to walk, take flights of stairs, and ride the train and buses – in and out of humid or wet streets. Glad I brought sweaters, socks, beanies, and heavy pants.

Baby Food. I’m sure there’s baby food available everywhere. But thinking about money conversion rates, where to buy, and the food stock we have at home, I decided to stay on the safe side and bring snacks good for a week.

Baby Milk Formula and Vitamins. I brought in a can of formula milk and bottles of vitamins. Your baby’s brands may not be available in your destination country.

Stroller, Car Seat and Carriers. Not all streets and transportation modes (in HK and in some other countries) are stroller-friendly. So for smaller babies, it would be best if you have the basket carrier so you can move baby from the stroller and out, and vice versa without a hassle. But for bigger babies, investing on a light umbrella-type strollers and back-pack carriers can be really helpful. We found a good buy in SM Department Store, for only P999. Light, easy to fold, and cheap. Exactly like this…

Documents. The Passport and the Baby Book are the basics. If baby is travelling with only one parent or with other adults other than the parents, a notarized letter of consent signed by the parent/s is required.

Bags. King and I fit in our stuff in 1 big luggage, and we had a separate luggage for Prince. It’s a wonder how a tiny baby can use up too much space. King had a backpack for all the gadgets, and I carried the baby bag.

Dengue! Malaria! Yellow Fever! Encephalitis! These are some known diseases those ugly, pesky mosquitoes transmit. Though they can be treated, some may be fatal.

Good News Mommies! We can do something to protect our little babies!

Sharing with you Cycles® Sensitive Non-DEET Insect Repellent!

DEET or N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide is a chemical in insect repellents originally used by the U.S. Army in jungle warfares to repel insects inhabiting the forests. That sounds tough! But you might not want to use DEET products on your baby’s sensitive skin. Though DEET is generally safe when used as indicated, it is still a poison on your baby’s sensitive skin that can cause mild irritations or redness.

Instead, Cycles® Sensitive Non-DEET Insect Repellent uses Picaridin, a synthetic compound based on Piper or Pepper that is proved to be odorless, as effective, and less irritating to the skin than DEET.

Cycles® Sensitive Non-DEET Insect Repellent provides up to 8 hours protection against insects, and is paraben-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and available for babies from ages birth up. Available in Makati Supermarket, Alabang at PHP254, 100mL for babies 6 months up. That’s way cheaper than hospital bills. I’m sure this one’s in other leading Supermarkets too.

And for the King and Queen…

This has 3% DEET though. But that should be safe enough. SRP PHP69.50 at Makati Supermarket, Alabang.